Rowland's response to I-95 inferno fails to impress critics

Barely a week after the bridge collapsed on Interstate 95 last week - allowing Rowland to rush into the state's largest city as a hero with money to hand out - the governor has his worst poll numbers to date.

According to a Qunnipiac University Poll released late last week, 70 percent now want Rowland gone, compared to just 25 that want him to stay. Among Republican voters, 59 percent want him to resign. Not surprisingly, an even higher number of
Democrats
, 81 percent, want him to go.

Rowland won praise from critics for his response to the accident in Bridgeport, but that praise wasn't enough to change the public's mind. State Sen.

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Ernest Newton
, D-Bridgeport, said in a televised interview, that Rowland was genuinely concerned and he didn't think the governor was just trying to win political points.

U.S. Rep.
Christopher Shays
, R-4th Dist., who earlier asked Rowland to resign, stood by Rowland's side in front of TV cameras and praised the governor. But Shays compartmentalizes his affection for Rowland. Later in the week, Shays said Rowland is hurting the
Republican Party
more every day he stays in office.

The rush to help for Rowland earned little more than a collective eye roll from a cynical public.

Bill could strengthen rules on heating oil companies

Responding to the
Newtown Oil
debacle last year, the Senate will take up a bill in the coming weeks that would increase regulations for dealers of home heating oil and protect consumers.

Under the proposal, which cleared the General Law Committee last month, oil companies would be required to offer any advertised price for at least 24 hours, or until a new price is publicized.

Further, the bill requires every dealer to provide its registration number in all its literature, including advertising. Plus the company would have to notify the state
Department of Consumer Protection and Agriculture
in writing if it dropped its insurance. Those without insurance coverage would have their license revoked.

"This will eliminate any deceptive practices and provide customers with peace of mind," said the bill's sponsor Sen.
David Cappiello
, R-Danbury. "They can be secure in the knowledge that they will be charged the price they were offered and the heat promised will be provided."

Cappiello said keeping homes warm in the winter is of utmost importance considering tough winters of the last two years. On top of that, the legislation is good for legitimate heating oil dealers that play by the rules, he said.

"With some dealers advertising one rate, but charging customers another, the honest dealers were left at a competitive disadvantage," Cappiello said.

Food allergy proposal nothing to sneeze at

Rep.
James O'Rourke
, D-Cromwell, isn't giving up on his food allergy proposal. That's despite two legislative committees holding their nose to the bill.

The proposal would require restaurants have a person trained about food allergies at each venue, have a list of ingredients for items on their menu available for review by customers make waiters and waitresses aware of food allergies and the availability of ingredients listing.